Parcel-receiving device



Aug. 24 1926.

A. A. ALEXANDER PARCEL RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 13. 1926 R m R mn M Nn 0 EA, r vx r nu A /A I Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

[UNITED STATES ALONZO A. ALEXANDER, OF `SI. LOUIS, MISSOURI. i

PARCEL-RECEIVING DEVICE.

Application filed February 13, 1926; Serial No. 88,138.

This invention relates generally to parcelreceiving devices, and moreparticularly to a parcel-receiving device adapted to be fitted into the lower portion of a door and means for locking said device in closed position when not in use. When the device is lowered on the outside of the door to receive a parcel a plate on the inside of the door connected to a plate on the outside of the door is drawn up against the interior of the door, so as to shut out drafts or access to the house through the aperture.

The object of my invention' is to provide a simple and convenient device whereby parcels may be conveniently delivered inside of the house, either in the absence of or without disturbing the occupants.

Fig. I illustrates my device applied to a door.

Fig. II is a view looking at my device in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a cross sectional view showing my device as it appearswhen folded.

A designates a door, in which an opening B is cut within the bottom portion thereof. 1 designates a plate secured to the bottom of the outside portion of the door A by hinges 2. 3 is another plate secured to the inside of the door A, also at the bottom thereof, by hinges 4.

The plates 1 and 3 are provided with pressed-out portions 5 and 6, respectively, to permit a curved plate 7 to be hingedly connected to said plates as at 8 and 9, respectively. This curved plate is hinged at 10 so that when ythe device is folded up, as seen in Fig. III, this plate may occupy the least amount of space.

Toggle levers 11 and 12 are secured to the plates 1 and 3 at the same hinge connections 2 and 4 which secure the curved plate 7 to said plates 1 and 3. These toggle levers are provided with short extension arms, each of which terminates in a hook 13 adapted to contact with the short arm of the toggle lever and thereby preventing the toggle from being carried beyond the position illustrated in Fig. I.

14 designates a package-receiver provided with rollers 15 and 16, while 17 and 18 designate stops for said package-receiver located at the outer ends of plates 1 and 3. 19 designates a latch carried by the upper or outer end of the plate 1, which is arranged to latch lover the upper edge of plate 3 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. III, or over plate 2O carried by the door A when the `parts are in the position shown in Fig. I.

In the operation of the device, the plates 1 and `3, being connected together by the curved plate as at 8 and 9, operate as an L-sliaped unit. Vhen it is desired to receive `a packageV the plate 1 is dropped to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. I, whereby theV plat-e 3 will be drawn upwardly against the door to close the opening B in said door at the'inside thereof, as also shown by dotted lines inrFig. I. lith the plates in the positions suggested, the package-receiver 14 is resting on the plate 1 outside of the door. Packages are placed in said package-receiver and the plate 1 is raised upwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. I, which movement causes the plate 3 to drop downwardly to a horizontal position at the inside of the door, as also shown by full linesin FigI. Then the plates 1 and 3 are moved as described the package carrier 14 will roll from the platte 1 across the curved plate 7 to the plate 3, and will strike against the stop 18 on the plate 3, whereby said packagecarrier will be located inside of the door and the plate l will close the opening in the door A at the outside face thereof. When the plate 1 is raised to the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. I, the latch 19 will drop over the plate 20 carried by the door A and therefore it will only be possible to draw the plate 1 outwardly at the top a Very slight distance until the forward or locking end of the latch strikes against the plate 20. l/Vhen the device is not in use the package-carrier 14 is removed and the plates 1 and 3 may be folded and secured as shown in Fig. III.

Vhile Ihave described my device as being applied'to the lower portion of a door, it is perfectly apparent that this device could be located about an aperture in a wall or a window, or in any place where it might be conveniently applied.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a pair of plates hingedly secured to a door and adapted for simultaneous movement whereby one of said plates is in contact with said door when the other plate is in horizontal position, and a movable package-earrier mounted for movement from one plate to the other in the operation of the device.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of plates hingedly ,secured to a. .door and to each other and adapted for simultaneous movement whereby one of said plates is in contact with said door when the other plate is in horizontal position, and a movable package-carrier mounted Vfor movement from one plate to the other inthe operation of the device.

3. In a device of the `character described, a pair oit plates hingedly secured to fa door and adapted for simultaneous :movement whereby one of said plates is in contact with said doer when the other :plate is in horizontal position, a plate hingedly secured to :cach of said plates for causing :such `simultaneous movement, Vand a "movable packagecarrier mounted for movement from .one Vplate to the Iother in the operation Vof the device.

4; In a Ldevice 'of the :character described, a pair of plates hingedly secured rte a door .and Vaiflapted for `simult'aneous movement whereby one of said plates is in contact with said door when the other plate lis in horizontal posi-tion, a plate liingedly secured to each of said plates for causing such simultaneous movement, and toggle-levers hinged to said plates and provided with stops for limiting the movement of said plates during the separating movement.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of plates hingedly secured to a door and adapted for simultaneous movement whereby vone `of said plates is in contact with 'said door when the other plate is in horizontal position, a plate hingedly secured to each of said plates for causing such simultaneous movement, toggle-levers hinged to said plates and provided with stops for limiting the movement of said plates *dur-ing fthe separating movement, and a movablepackagecarrier mounted for movement from one plate yto the other in the operation of the device.

In testimony that I Vclaim t ie foregoing I hereunto aflix mv sio'nature.

ALoi'vz A. ALEXANDER, 

